How to See Deleted Messages on Facebook Messenger
Have you ever deleted a message on Facebook Messenger and then needed to check it? Whether it was an accidental deletion or you're trying to find an important piece of information you remembered later, you may be wondering if it's possible to see those deleted messages. In this article, we have a guide on how to see deleted messages on Facebook Messenger.
Key Takeaways
- First of all, check if the message was archived.
- If you deleted messages less than 90 days ago, you can download them from your Facebook settings.
- You can locate the message from cache files if you deleted the messages from Android devices.
- You can check your email notifications to see deleted Messenger messages.
- You can request recipient to forward these messages.
What You Need to Know about Messenger Deleted Messages
- Deleted news feed messages about photos remove the message but not the actual photo.
- Deleted photos stay in the cache and are accessible for a short time before being removed.
- Various types of content caches exist, and data typically leaves the cache after some time.
- For legal reasons, certain types of content must be retained for specific periods.
- Technical reasons require Facebook to keep records, such as user IDs, even after account deletion.
- The main copy of the data is usually deleted, even though some data may temporarily remain due to other reasons.
How to Retrieve Deleted Messages on Messenger
1 Check If the Message Was Archived
Archiving messages keeps them out of your inbox and hidden until you talk to that person again. Sometimes people archive chats without meaning to and think they're deleted. Let's look at how to find archived messages again.
On Mobile
Step 1. Click on your profile photo at the top left corner of your Messenger screen.
Step 2. You will see a list of Messenger options; click on Archived Chats.
Step 3. You will see a list of all the chats you have archived; swipe left on it.
Step 4. You will see an option to Unarchive; click on it, and your chat will be restored toyour inbox.
On Computer
Step 1. Click on three horizontal dots at the top left corner of your Messenger screen.
Step 2. You will see a list of Messenger options; click on Archived Chats.
Step 3. You will see a list of all the chats you have archived; click on the three horizontal dots in front of the chat.
Step 4. You will see an option to Unarchive; click on it, and your chat will be restored to your inbox.
2Download Your Data from Facebook Setting
You can download your data through Facebook's Download Your Information feature. This feature allows you access to your data in a ZIP file. It will contain the deleted Messenger message depending on when you created the file.
Step 1. Click on your Account icon at the top right corner of your Facebook homepage.
Step 2. You will see a drop-down list; click Settings & privacy on the list.
Step 3. Again, you will see another list; click on Settings.
Step 4. On the Settings page, click on Your Facebook information on the left panel.
Step 5. Click on the View button in front of Download your information.
Step 6. You will see a long array of data; you can unselect the ones you do not want.
Pick the HTML file format and the media quality you want and set a range.
Step 7. At the bottom of the page, tap the Request a download button.
Step 8. Click on Create File to confirm the download request.
Step 9. At the top of the screen, click on Available files beside Request a download.
Step 10. Download the data available there.
Step 11. On your computer, unpack/unzip the file and check for your deleted messages.
3Locate the Messagea from Cache Files (Android)
Android phones store multiple copies of data and files in temporary storage or location called cache so they can access these copies swiftly. Hence, using Facebook Messenger on an Android phone has the advantage of keeping a failsafe file of your chat for you. Through this file, you can see deleted messages on Messenger.
Step 1. Open the file Manager app on your device. If you do not have it installed, you can download one from the Google Play Store.
Step 2. Follow this path on your phone: Internal Storage → Android → data → com.facebook.ocra → cache → fb_temp.
Step 3. You will find your recent messages, including the one deleted.
4Check Old Email Notifications
Still want to know if is there a way to see deleted messages on Messenger? Most people ignore Email Notifications. But what if we told you there's a way to retrieve deleted Messenger messages from those old email notifications? You search for a particular conversation, but it's nowhere to be found. You must check your Gmail or native Email application.
If your email notifications are turned on for Messenger, all your conversations are automatically backed up and stored in your Email account. So if you accidentally delete a conversation, you can always check your email notifications to search for it.
5Request Recipient to Forward These Messages
Last but not least, the easiest way to view deleted messages on Facebook is to ask the recipient to forward them to you. If you want to accomplish this, you will need to send the recipient an email or message explaining the situation and asking them to send the message again.
Things to Consider after Seeing Deleted Messages on Facebook Messenger
Back up Messenger Messages
To see your deleted messages on Facebook messenger, you back it up. However, the backup only works for current messages. Hence, you have to back up before a message is deleted.
Step 1. Click on your Account icon at the top right corner of your Facebook homepage.
Step 2. You will see a drop-down list; click Settings & privacy on the list.
Step 3. Again, you will see another list; click on Settings.
Step 4. On the Settings page, navigate to Notifications and click it.
Step 5. Head to the bottom of the page and pick Email.
Step 6. Complete the process by clicking on All notifications, except the ones you turn off.
Be Careful Not to Delete Again
Once you have recovered your deleted messages, it is important to be careful not to delete them again. It may be more difficult or, in some cases, impossible to recover those messages again. Moreover, never use the "Delete" function; it will wipe away all chats in the conversation.
Check If the Messages Are Correct
When you recover deleted messages, it is important to check if they are correct. This is because the messages may have been corrupted or incomplete when deleted. Ensure you have a strong internet connection when you download the backup, and never pause the file unless it is completely downloaded.
Archive Message vs Delete Message vs Remove Message on Facebook Messenger
One of the most important features of Facebook Messenger is the ability to manage your messages effectively. You can archive messages, delete messages and threads, and even unsend messages.
If you have been using Facebook Messenger for quite some time, you might be confused about the functions of the terms Archive, Delete, and Remove/unsend message. These features ensure user privacy and let them decide how to manage their conversation.
Archive Message
Archiving a conversation hides it from your inbox without deleting the messages. You can still access archived conversations and continue messaging. The conversation will be moved to the "Archived Chats" folder, and you can still access it and continue messaging. Archiving is useful when you want to declutter your inbox without losing the conversation history.
Delete Message
If you delete a message in a conversation, it will only be removed from your own chat history. The message will still be visible to other participants in the conversation. If you want to delete individual messages within a conversation, tap and hold the message, then select "Delete." or "Unsend for you". However, this will only delete the message from your chat history, and it will still be visible to other participants in the conversation.
Remove Message
Removing a message allows you to delete a message for everyone in the chat within 10 minutes of sending it. To remove a message, tap and hold the message, select "Unsend," then choose "Unsed for Everyone." The message content will no longer be visible to anyone in the conversation, and it will be replaced with a notice that the message was removed. However, if you want to remove others' messages from your chat, you can simply hold the messages sent by others, then choose "Remove for you", then this message will remove from your devices, other chat members will still be able to see it.
Bonus: See Your Child's Deleted Messages without Recovering
Sometimes kids might hide or even delete their messages on Facebook Messenger. In response, AirDroid Parental Control can help you sync up conversations your child has on Messenger. Even if they delete the messages afterward, the synced messages you have won't be changed.
Wrapping Up
Facebook Messenger may be an indigenous tool, but its relevance is undeniable. Hence, deleting a message on the app can be frustrating for the user. Gigabytes of essential data are shared via the messaging app. Hence, users need to know how to see deleted messages on Messenger.
This article has identified four main methods to use. These methods are checking if the message was archived, downloading the data from the Facebook setting, locating the message from cache files, and using our third-party app, AirDroid Parental Control.
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